Monday, January 16, 2017

Meeting Wonderful People On My Birthday

Inside the number 2 restaurant on Trip Advisor 
Restaurante Ze Manel dos Ossos 
Which means restaurant of bones

My birthday started out being lazy and posting thank you's to all of my kind friends across the planet while having a nice cup of coffee.  

For lunch we went to the number 2 rated restaurant in Coimbra on Trip Advisor.  The reviews say that it is worth the wait.  We arrived 15 minutes after they opened and had to waited 45 minutes for a table.  The restaurant has 7 small tables and they are only open from 12:30 to 3:00 and again for dinner from 7:30 to 10:00.   They do not take reservations.  Yes the food was delicious and we will return for the wild boar and bean stew.
The area became more crowded with people as we waited for a table.  
That is Vince leaning against the wall.

Pork Bones 
The meat still on them was amazing.

Soup of the day with grilled pork and the pitcher was full of wine.

Almond and Egg Dessert

The owner is on the left.  He was so kind.


Only 7 tables and notes from customers all over the walls.
The owner and people that work there know the regulars and it is a very happy, lively, and loud place where we even were made to feel like family.  It was so much fun!

Now for the amazing story!   The man in the bottom right works there and was our waiter.  He saw me taking pictures of the restaurant and asked if he could take one of Vince and I.  I told him it was my birthday and that we live in Santa Clara.  He proceeded to tell us he lives in the next neighborhood and he is a policeman and goes by the name of Warrior.  Then he held my arm, leaned in and lifted his shirt to show me his gun!   He said anytime we need a policeman to call him. 
  (I guess we are family now!)


On our walk through town I saw this door which is over 10 feet tall!

Beautiful tiles on this apartment at the corner of a narrow lane.

One more story.  I wanted to try on these cork tennis shoes.  The woman that helped me was wearing a pair of cork ugg boots and I asked her several questions about the wear and comfort of cork.  The inside is all leather and they are lightweight and very durable and water resistant.  I explained that I need the cobbler down the street to build up the sole of the shoe because I have one leg shorter than the other.   She took the cork shoe and the shoe I was wearing and said she would take them to him and ask.  Out the door she went and was back in a few minutes with a "Yes, of course and I remember her from the flower tennis shoes last week!"   As we talked with her we discovered that she lives in our apartment complex and she gave me her contact info to keep in touch and invited us to her son's one year birthday party.   So, I guess we have met another member of the family today!

We love Coimbra!






How Did I Become A Senior Citizen?


Today is my 62nd birthday.  I am often surprised when I catch a glance at the reflection walking by a shop window or look down and ask, who's old woman's hands are those?  What really shocks me? When I open the camera on my phone and accidentally click to reverse the view.  Have you ever held up a mirror above your face with your head tilted back, you look pretty good.  Now bend over and hold the mirror below your face, you have just aged 20 years!  Little aches and pains happen as we age but it's the ones that happen when you least expect that have you swearing. One should not hurt oneself while you are sleeping!

Embracing their age is done so easily by the beautiful older Portuguese women I see wearing dresses, stylish boots, tunics and leggings with little makeup and their hair always pretty, the accessories of hats and scarves make it seem like they stepped out of a magazine.  Fashion here is different than in the US and I like it very much.   I have seen mid to older women wearing fur coats and jackets and no one is having a hissy fit poised with a bucket of red paint to throw on them.  I really admire their poise and beauty.

Women here are naturally curvy and I find it lovely that they are as adored by their men as I am by Vince.  We see generations of couples holding hands all the time and sitting on park benches with arms around each other.   I am proudly living in a place where I am not looked down upon by society for being old and having curves.  I am encouraged and I have decided that from now on I want to be referred to as Goddess! Thank you Portugal!


No matter your age, it is important to play, laugh and see the magic that shows up in front of you.
I took my six year old inner child shopping for our birthday and this is what we picked out!

Hand made paper and painted journal

The most awesome Stan Smith Trainers!

We also got a puppy (hot water bottle) to keep our feet warm at night.







Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year 2017


Sun Wukong and Malcolm Jr. polished off this unique 
Cork Oak Acorn Beer.  We can't take them anywhere!


We have celebrated New Years together 42 times!   I think on most of them we were awakened from a deep slumber by the noise of neighborhood fireworks and for 12 years hoping they wouldn't set the field next to our house on fire.   We have gone bowling, camping, to a handful of friend's parties, and to sleep, but the one we remember vividly was our trip to Japan.

New Years Mochi and Totoro Coffee Cup from Japan


It was a clear cold night as we walked through the quiet rural streets to a local shrine in the small town of Uchiko.  We stood in a long line waiting for midnight and the deep resonance of the ancient gong that each person took a turn striking.  Afterward we stood by a large drum of fire to warm our hands while we drank hot sake to warm the rest of us.  It was a peaceful time to contemplate what was and what was yet to be.  Little did we know of our adventures to come.


Wiring on the floats full of pyrotechnics 



This year is our first year in Coimbra, Portugal and we decided to go to the river bank to watch the fireworks.  It was a brisk 5C / 40F and we bundled up and drank hot buttered brandy while we waited for the show.   The city put on a very nice display and people from all around the city came to the river to watch.  It was a great way to celebrate.  January 1st breakfast was pancakes and Vermont Maple syrup that we happily devoured and later we will be taking our daily 2 mile walk to town under the brilliant blue sky and sunshine.



Make a wish on the Dandelion seeds





Our adventures for 2017 continue to grow as we make plans for a cruise on April 22 to the Western Mediterranean visiting England, Spain, France, and Italy.  Then in July/August we are hoping to meet Lisa and Steve in Paris!  Wow, we never thought we would be saying that.  But first, we have Linda's 62nd birthday on January 16th and our 43rd Wedding Anniversary on February 1st.  Sometimes I feel like I am living in a movie or a life that belongs to someone else and I have to remind myself that I am awake and this is all mine!





We want to thank all of the people that are following our adventures.  It is truly a small world and we are very happy to have communication with friends across the planet.  You never know who you will meet and make connections with just by standing next to them and saying hello.  Our lives are better and richer for those moments when we stepped out of our comfort zone and trusted that everything will be ok.  These memories make our hearts twinkle with love!  No matter where the year takes you, remember to spread love and kindness.

Seriously... it is Sirius

Coimbra from our side of the Rio Mondego